DASH Systems

Farcast, Inc., operating as DASH Systems, is a Los Angeles-based logistics company founded in 2017 by Joel Ifill. The venture is focused on developing hardware and software for precision airdrop deliveries. Ifill, who serves as CEO, brings a relevant background to the company, having spent six years as a program manager for Northrop Grumman, where he worked on the B-2 stealth bomber, and four years as an acquisitions officer for the U.S. Air Force.

DASH Systems' core technology enables packages to be autonomously released from commercial aircraft and landed within a helipad-sized area. This is achieved through proprietary flight-control software that guides the cargo pods to their destination. The system is designed to be deployed from the rear door of various aircraft, allowing for deliveries in remote, rural, or otherwise inaccessible locations without the need for traditional airport infrastructure. The company's business model targets commercial clients, including e-commerce giants and humanitarian organizations, offering a solution to the challenges of last-mile delivery in difficult-to-reach areas. By leveraging existing commercial aircraft, DASH Systems aims to provide a cost-effective and rapid delivery service.

The company has demonstrated its capabilities through successful tests, including a 40-pound payload delivery in Starkville, Mississippi, and a humanitarian aid drop in the Dominican Republic. In 2021, DASH Systems announced it had raised $8 million in a seed funding round led by 8VC, with participation from T-Force, the venture arm of transportation company TFI International, and other investors. Keywords: precision airdrop, logistics technology, autonomous delivery, last-mile logistics, cargo pods, aerial delivery, hardware, software, commercial cargo, humanitarian aid